The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Infantile Colic Symptoms

NCT ID: NCT03939611

Last Updated: 2019-05-07

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

45 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-06-26

Study Completion Date

2017-03-31

Brief Summary

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Aim: To compare the effect of foot reflexology and placebo foot reflexology on colic symptoms such as pain, ineffective sleep, and colicky crying periods in infants with colic.

Method: The study was conducted as a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in a child hospital between June 2016 and March 2017. To start with, 20 infants with colic were randomly selected for the reflexology group, and 25 babies with colic were randomly selected for the placebo group. Simple randomization was used; the parents and statistician were blinded to group assessment. The researcher could not be blinded because of the role played in the study. Foot reflexology was implemented with reflexology-group infants. Placebo foot reflexology was used with placebo-group infants. Both interventions were performed four times, for 20 minutes, each, by the researcher over the course of two weeks. The data were collected by the researcher using the information form, infantile colic scale, behavioral pain scale, crying and sleeping follow-up forms.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Infantile Colic Reflexology

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This was an experimental, single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
All parents were only told that foot application would be done, without giving any expectations. In the statistical analysis, the groups were named Group-1 and Group-2, and the statistician was blinded when evaluating the outputs. The report was written by the statistician, who did not know which application was performed to which group blinding was provided in the report writing. The scales were evaluated by the researcher, who could not be blinded due to the nature of the study.

Study Groups

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Foot Reflexology Group

Foot reflexology was performed to the reflexology group infants. Foot reflexology application (FRA) involved relaxation for the first 3-5 minutes and the last 2 minutes; the remaining 12-15 minutes included stimulation of the brain and digestive system organs. To ensure relaxation, rotation was performed by using the thumbs of the hand under the feet, cephalocaudally. The session of FRA included stimulating the brain and medulla spinalis (2 min), the solar plexus (1min), the stomach (2min), the liver (2min), the pancreas (2min), the gallbladder (1min), and the ileocecal valve and intestine (5min) reflex points. Application was performed on all infants twice a week, for a total of four times during two consecutive weeks. Between two consecutive applications, a minimum of 48 hours and a maximum of 5 days was allotted (Stone, 2011). A total of 6 follow-ups were performed during the study period.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Foot Reflexology

Intervention Type OTHER

Reflexology is one of the complementary health approaches; it is based on systematic pressure and stimulation with fingers to energy points in feet and hands and is a topic nowadays studied. Reflexology argues that the reflex maps in the hands and feet with all of the parts of the body are in contact. The pressure applied to each point stimulates the circulation of blood and energy like a sensor, gives a sense of relaxation, provides homeostasis. With a touch that is a different way of communication with children, is supported to create physical awareness via reflexology techniques, and is provided healthy nutrition of the stimulated tissue.

Placebo Foot Reflexology Group

Placebo foot reflexology was performed to the placebo group infants. Placebo foot reflexology application (PFRA) was constrained to ineffective touch without any stimulation and pressure. The aim of the PFRA was to create only a touch effect. It was applied by patted the foot by using the thumbs of the hand, for 20 minutes with the same rotation and to the same points as FRA. Application was performed on all infants twice a week, for a total of four times during two consecutive weeks. Between two consecutive applications, a minimum of 48 hours and a maximum of 5 days was allotted (Stone, 2011). A total of 6 follow-ups were performed during the study period.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo Foot Reflexology

Intervention Type OTHER

Placebo reflexology was performed by touch without pressure to the same rotation and to the same points as foot reflexology application. It was performed only to compare foot reflexology with a placebo effect.

Interventions

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Foot Reflexology

Reflexology is one of the complementary health approaches; it is based on systematic pressure and stimulation with fingers to energy points in feet and hands and is a topic nowadays studied. Reflexology argues that the reflex maps in the hands and feet with all of the parts of the body are in contact. The pressure applied to each point stimulates the circulation of blood and energy like a sensor, gives a sense of relaxation, provides homeostasis. With a touch that is a different way of communication with children, is supported to create physical awareness via reflexology techniques, and is provided healthy nutrition of the stimulated tissue.

Intervention Type OTHER

Placebo Foot Reflexology

Placebo reflexology was performed by touch without pressure to the same rotation and to the same points as foot reflexology application. It was performed only to compare foot reflexology with a placebo effect.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Infants were included who were aged 1-3 months, Infants who were diagnosed IC by a pediatrician according to Wessel's rule of threes.

Exclusion Criteria

Infants who were using any of analgesic drug until 3 hours before the applications and antibiotic or steroid due to treating an illness, Infants who had an acute fever, musculoskeletal disease, active shingles or infection, acute shingles, or tissue in the foot and joint, All infants with any non-IC health problems.
Minimum Eligible Age

1 Month

Maximum Eligible Age

3 Months

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Akdeniz University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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NIMET KARATAS

Research Assistant

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Ayşegül İŞLER DALGIÇ, Professor

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Corresponding Author

References

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Other Identifiers

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AkdenizUniversity

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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